Best News Subscriptions · pricing · Updated June 2026
The Athletic pricing (2026)
The Athletic starts at $6/mo (Annual), across 2 plans. Best for Hardcore sports fans who want beat-writer depth on specific teams, not just scores. Every figure links to The Athletic's own page and the date we captured it.
At a glance
- Entry price: $6/mo (Annual) · 25% off with annual billing
- Free tier: No
- Compliance: HIPAA — · SOC 2 — · GDPR —
- Best for: Hardcore sports fans who want beat-writer depth on specific teams, not just scores; Podcast consumers wanting sports-specific audio beyond mainstream radio; Fantasy sports players who want expert analysis across all major leagues
The Athletic plans & pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Billing | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $7.99 | — | flat | Full access to The Athletic's sports journalism, beat writers and podcasts, billed monthly. | apps.apple.com |
| Annual | $6 | −25% | flat | Same full access billed annually at $71.99/year (equiv. $6.00/month); ~25% cheaper than monthly. | apps.apple.com |
Last verified 2026-06-13. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-athletic-all-sports-news/id1135216317 (official The Athletic US App Store listing, In-App Purchases, accessed 2026-06-13; standard annual $71.99 corroborated by trade press) Cross-checked against awfulannouncing.com.
Capabilities
Integrations: iOS 18+, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Android, web (nytimes.com/athletic).
Key features: 400+ dedicated sports journalists and beat writers; Coverage: NFL (32 teams), MLB (30 teams), NBA (30 teams), NHL (23 teams), MLS, PGA Tour, F1, NASCAR, college sports, Premier League; Live scores and real-time stats; Original podcasts: The Athletic Football Show, The Audible, No Dunks, and league-specific shows; Breaking news alerts with real-time notifications; Connections: Sports Edition (daily word-grouping game); In-depth long-form journalism and exclusive interviews; No advertising — subscription-only revenue model; Apple Editors' Choice award recipient.
Plan limits: No free tier — hard paywall, subscription required for all content; No free trial stated in App Store listing; English and French (Montreal only) language support.
Frequently asked questions
How much does The Athletic cost?
The Athletic starts at $6/mo (Annual); it has 2 published plans. Verified 2026-06-13.
Is The Athletic cheaper billed annually?
Yes. The Athletic publishes a 25% discount for paying annually (on the Annual plan). Verified 2026-06-13.
What are cheaper alternatives to The Athletic?
Cheaper news subscriptions than The Athletic (entry $6/mo) include The New York Times at $4.99/mo, Financial Times at $4.99/mo. Verified 2026-06-13.
Does The Athletic support HIPAA?
The Athletic HIPAA support: —. SOC 2: —. GDPR: —.
Does The Athletic have a free plan?
The Athletic free tier: No.
The Athletic vs alternatives
Cheaper news subscriptions alternatives
- The New York Times from $4.99/mo
- Financial Times from $4.99/mo